238: Chapter 238 The Commercial Scent of Art

The farce at the forum ended abruptly because of that diplomatic passport. Xiao Ye was released on bail.

Three days later, Imperial Capital, Longwan No. 1 Villa.

Chen Nianyao sat before an easel. On the canvas was an oil painting titled "new life." Several of today's overseas newspapers lay scattered on the floor of the studio, alongside a tablet with its screen lit up.

The headlines of top international art forums scrolled across the tablet.

The entire internet was discussing the upcoming international charity auction. This auction gathered global elites, and Chen Nianyao's painting was among the items.

The comments on the page were extremely ugly.

"The scribbles of a Chinese second-generation rich kid, devoid of any artistic value."

"Waste paper piled up by capital; the European art world rejects such things that reek of money."

"If this painting can even fetch its starting price, it will be a disgrace in art history."

The people speaking out were all top, highly influential critics who had won major awards in the international art world. It was crystal clear who was spending money behind the scenes to push this.

Chen Muyang strode through the studio corridor and kicked open the ajar door. Glancing at the text on the tablet, he immediately took out his phone.

"Hello, Legal Department. Sue these European critics immediately. Also, contact the major shareholders behind that auction house and give them an offer; I'm going to buy the entire auction house today, shell and all."

Chen Nianyao stood up and pressed down on Chen Muyang's hand holding the phone.

"Brother, don't buy it." Chen Nianyao washed her brush in the sink. "If you really use money to buy the auction house and bid on the painting yourself, what those people say will become the truth. They'll say the Chen family's daughter only knows how to use her father's money to gild her own face."

"Are we just going to watch that bastard Xiao Ye spend money to smear you?" Chen Muyang said. "He used overseas capital chains to buy out all the media channels at high prices. Not only that, he also intentionally hyped up the prices of several other third-rate artworks in tonight's auction to astronomical levels. He clearly wants your painting to fail to sell in front of the whole world, slapping our Chen family's face!"

Chen Nianyao lowered her head and looked at her painting without a word. For a girl who treated art as her faith, having her work forcibly labeled as trash by capital was a very direct blow.

Footsteps came from outside the door.

Chen Fan walked in wearing grey casual clothes. He first looked at "new life," then turned to look at Chen Muyang.

"Muyang, whenever you encounter a problem, you only know how to throw money at it. How is that any different from that Xiao Ye outside?"

Chen Muyang put down his phone. "Dad, I can't swallow this insult."

"I didn't tell you to swallow it." Chen Fan walked over to Chen Nianyao and patted her shoulder. "Lift your head."

Chen Nianyao looked at her father.

"True art doesn't need to be defined by a few actors paid to do a job," Chen Fan said. "Attend tonight's auction as planned. Dad will give you a gift."

Chen Fan turned and walked into the study. He didn't have Chen Haoyu mobilize funds, nor did he use the system to hack the other party's accounts.

He opened a drawer, took out an unmarked black satellite phone, and dialed a series of encrypted long-distance numbers.

The phone rang three times before being picked up.

"Mr. Chen, you've finally contacted me." An elderly voice speaking pure French came from the other end.

"Duke Louis." Chen Fan leaned back in his chair and looked out the window. "Those few Chinese cultural relics I had someone return to the Louvre Museum for free last time—have you verified their authenticity?"

"They have all been cataloged. This is not only a historical miracle but also a huge contribution to the world's cultural heritage. The entire European art world owes you a great favor."

"The favor doesn't need to be returned later; today will do," Chen Fan said. "There's a charity auction tonight in the Imperial Capital. My daughter has a painting up for auction."

The other end was silent for two seconds, then the old man's voice rose a few notches. "I understand. I'll arrange a private jet immediately. Also, Hans, the chief appraiser of the British Museum, happens to be a guest at my place; I'll have him come along."

"Good. See you tonight."

Chen Fan hung up and tossed the satellite phone back into the drawer.

8:00 PM. Imperial Capital International Hotel, main venue of the charity auction.

Inside the venue, the elite were dressed to the nines, and cameras from various media outlets had been set up early.

Front and center of the VIP section.

Xiao Ye, dressed in a white suit, swirled his wine glass, surrounded by several other second-generation rich kids also involved in overseas capital business. He turned his head to look at Chen Nianyao and Chen Muyang sitting in a partition on the other side.

At exactly 8:00 PM, the auctioneer stepped onto the podium.

The large screen lit up, and the first item displayed was indeed Chen Nianyao's oil painting, "new life."

"Ladies and gentlemen, the first item tonight is a personal painting donated by Miss Chen Nianyao of the Huihuang Group." The auctioneer struck the gavel. "Starting price, one million US dollars. Each bid increment must be no less than one hundred thousand. Let the bidding begin."

The venue was eerily quiet.

The domestic bosses, who would usually scramble to please the Huihuang Group, were all looking down at their phones now. They had long since received word: anyone who dared to raise their paddle today would be opposing the Overseas Capital Alliance.

Ten seconds passed.

Twenty seconds passed.

No one raised a paddle.

Xiao Ye leaned back in his seat and laughed. He downed his red wine, his voice carrying far in the quiet hall.

"Young Master Chen, it's only a million dollars. Surely your Chen family isn't unable to even support your own sister's painting? Do you want me to lend you some cash?"

Xiao Ye placed the empty wine glass on the table and looked at Chen Muyang. "Oh, I forgot, the Chen family's young lady has integrity and doesn't spend her family's money. In that case, auctioneer, why hasn't the countdown for a failed bid started yet?"

The auctioneer wiped the sweat from his forehead and picked up the gavel. "One million dollars, going once. One million dollars, going twice."

Xiao Ye looked at Chen Nianyao. "See? Art is worthless in the face of capital. Your so-called talent can't even make a sound."

The auctioneer raised the gavel, opening his mouth to call out "going three times."

"Wait!"

A loud shout broke the dead silence in the hall.

The heavy mahogany double doors of the main hall were pushed open from the outside. An elderly foreigner leaning on a cane stood at the entrance.

Xiao Ye turned around to look at the old man who had interrupted his show. Just as he was about to speak, he saw over a dozen people behind the old man also filing into the hall.

When all the media reporters in the room saw who had arrived, their camera lenses all swiveled over.

The old man didn't look at Xiao Ye at all. He raised the bidding paddle in his hand and pointed one finger at the auctioneer on stage.

"For this painting, I bid one hundred million US dollars," the old man said. "I wonder if anyone else here has an objection?"